Photography

Photograph by Pedro Oliveira

In case i hadn't told you i'm a big photography fan!

I'll boldly consider myself an amateur photographeur risking the rath of others but i'll gamble on a couple of lucky moments which combined my presence, the camera and a click generating what i think (you'll judge) to be a nice visual effect.

If you're interested in more let me know i'll start putting more pictures up. In case you know good photography websites share them. If you want to buy, i'll make cheap deal ;-)

This photograph was taken on a rainy day at home using one of my favourite models: chess pieces. The simplicity of it, the contrast between black and white and the ability to make my imagination flow is what captivates me in it.

Um texto demagogico

Ricardo_Costa

Achei que seria um texto interessante de TU como portugues(a) leres.

Serve este texto para explicar como podia e pode o governo salvar o defice sem nos ��lixar�� a vida a todos. O artigo e, sobretudo, uma lista de mercearia (ou de lavandaria, para quem gosta dos livros do WoodyAllen). Os itens nao vao por ordem de grandeza, mas sao todos exequiveis. Ora ai vai:

1. Proibir qualquer governo de mudar a sua lei org?nica durante 20 anos.

2. Proibir qualquer ministro de mudar o nome do seu ministerio e, assim, nao encomendar novo logotipo, papel timbrado, envelopes, cartoes e afins.

3. Proibir qualquer ministerio ou direcao-geral de mudar de instalacoes e ameacar criminalmente quem o fizer.

4. Proibir as delegacoes que vao a Nova Iorque de se instalarem no Pierre ou no Waldorf Astoria, apesar de os representantes da Guine estarem la.

5. Restringir o uso dos Falcon ao Presidente da Republica e ao Primeiro-Ministro.

6. Nao encomendar nenhum estudo a nenhuma consultora durante 1 ano. Vao ver que os precos das consultoras baixam e que os ��power-points�� deixam de ser um chorrilho de banalidades.

7. Extiguir todas as comissoes de livros brancos, verdes e afins.

8. Extinguir os governos civis todos, vender os edificios e a tralha respectiva.

9. Reduzir drasticamente o ��staff�� variavel dos ministerios e, sobretudo, das camaras municipais para acabar com as maquinas de emprego partidario.

10. Proibir que os ministerios contratem empresas de comunicacao para fazer a assessoria de imprensa ou que o facam atraves das empresas que tutelam.

11. Nao nomear amigos e ��malta do partido�� para as administraces das empresas estatais e para-estatais.

12. Para assustar a nossa Banca, o Governo devia deixar que o BBVA comprasse um grande banco em Portugal.

13. Para mostrar que nem tudo esta combinado na secretaria, o Governo devia deixar que o Belmiro ganhasse um concurso publico qualquer. La porque ele nao da dinheiro aos partidos, comeca a ser escandaloso que o maior empresario portugues nunca ganhe nada quando a decisao esta nas maos do Estado.

14. Vender os submarinos a algum pais emergente (ou submergente, como nos).

15. Vender todos os quarteis que existem no centro das cidades, urbanizar 30% e por tudo o resto com espacos verdes geridos e pagos pelas construtoras que ficam com os direitos de construcao.

16. Obrigar Angola a pagar a divida.

17. Assumir que so as linhas do TGV Lisboa-Madrid e Lisboa-Porto e que podem ser rentaveis e acabar com as outras todas, que nunca vao ser feitas e para as quais se continuam a encomendar muitos estudos.

18. Condecorar o Paulo Macedo.

19. Depois de ser condecorado, sugiro ao Paulo Macedo que faca uma busca simultanea nos partidos politicos e nas empresas que montam campanhas eleitorais. Vai ver, finalmente, o que sao sinais exteriores de riqueza.

20. Fazer o mesmo nas SAD dos clubes que vivem acima das possibilidades e jogam cada vez pior.

21. Implodir o Estadio do Algarve em cerimonia publica e obrigar o Jose Socrates e o Jose Luis Arnaut a carregarem no botao e, ja agora, a comprar a dinamite do seu bolso - sao os dois ricos e nao lhes faz diferenca. Ameacar, nesse mesmo dia, implodir os estadios de Aveiro e de Coimbra se continuarem a dar prejuizos monstruosos.

Is Democracy forever?

��A democracy cannot exist as a permanent form of government. It can only exist until the voters discover that they can vote themselves largess from the public treasury. From that time on the majority always votes for the candidates promising the most benefits from the public treasury, with the results that a democracy always collapses over loose fiscal policy, always followed by a dictatorship.

The average age of the world's great civilizations has been 200 years. These nations have progressed through this sequence:

from bondage to spiritual faith;
from spiritual faith to great courage;
from courage to liberty;
from liberty to abundance;
from abundance to selfishness;
from selfishness to complacency;
from complacency to apathy;
from apathy to dependency;
from dependency back again to bondage."


Sir Alex Fraser Tytler (1742-1813)
Scottish jurist and historian


This was sent to me a while ago and I��ve kept it to reflect. It makes frightening sense but can it be true?

I��m a history fan but my knowledge is obviously limited. However I can��t remember the existence of a democracy as similar as today��s democracies before at least the 1800��s.

Therefore, unless I��m proven wrong with arising facts (please correct my ignorance if you can) I think it��s an interesting speculating though that arouses mostly deep concerns for our world��s growing apathy, but not foretelling based on evidence.

It is however this apathy of though, concern for issues and intellectual debate that we should look out for and continuously share views even when they may seem vague, anecdotic, unfounded or simple minded.

I do agree that by not doing this we become hostages of some else��s mind �V bondage.

Portugal's Public Employee System

Champions!!

Benfica
Originally uploaded by Pedroo.

Everyone was in red, most people had a beer in their hands and a large part was getting anxious and nervous at the same time. Thus was the atmosphere at "Docas" on Sunday.

After 90m of uncertainty, on the last minute of Porto game, the crowd at Benfica's game (some blocks away) started to roar. They knew Benfica was now League Champion for the first time in 11 years.

At "Docas" there was shouting and excitement. The 3 dutch girls with me were in awe.

After that it was all about celebrating on the streets of Lisbon until dawn.

SLB!! SLB!! SLB!!

PS: Quando o jogo acabou e no meio da celebracao olhei para o lado e Antonio Mexia, ex-Ministro das Obras Publicas, olhou-me nos olhos e gritou: "11 ANOS CARAMBA!!"

Star Wars... over board...

Darth
Originally uploaded by Pedroo.

When movies are taken just a liiiiiiittle bit too serious this kind of thing happens.

However, if you're a fan like me, you don't drink first thing in the morning and you can keep your eye on the ball then you're going to go see EPISODE III: Revenge of the Sith !!!

Finally the closure to a chapter that started when i could barely understand english :)

UEFA Final

UEFA Final
Originally uploaded by Pedroo.

A portuguese team, Sporting made it to the UEFA cup final and had Lisbon in a party frenzy all day long because not only had they made it to the final but they were playing on their home stadium since it was chosen before hand by UEFA.

Unfortunately after an incredible goal that gave Sporting the starting lead (1-0) they suffered 3 goals and lost. CSKA Moscow deserved to win. It was a good game to watch.

Even though i'm a Benfica fan this time i was rooting all the way for the green ones ;-)

See the headlines on CNN. Until next year when Benfica wins the Champions League... after this weekend being crowned League Champion!

Check out Sitima's blog for some Benfica treats.

Partidarizacao da Economia

Os efeitos nefastos do excesso de intervencao do Estado da economia sao sobejamente conhecidos e mereciam um post bem longo.

Hoje o Expresso Online apresenta um artigo em que Leonor Beleza, Presidente da Fundacao Champalimaud aponta para um dos maiores ridiculos a meu ver: a partidarizacao dos cargos na admnistracao publica.

Este problema e especialmente grave se verificarmos que a mudanca de Governo altera (por norma) a estrutura das principais empresas publicas: PT, CGD, EDP, etc...

Como poderao desta forma ser desenvolvidas e implementadas estrategias de longo-prazo nas empresas publicas? A resposta e que nao podem. Como a admnistracao muda de x em x tempo para um estilo diferente a grande massa que compoem o pessoal da empresa apenas agarra-se ao que tem ate passar mais uma tempestade. Visao de longo prazo? "Devem estar a brincar comigo!!"

Esta e uma das materias mais evidentes que deveria ser consensual dentro do espectro politico. Porque nao?

Radio

Radio
Originally uploaded by Pedroo.

This is a good movie you should watch.

It's based on a true story and they show you the people characters are based on at the end of the movie.

It's an emotional story about a football coach's fight to integrate a mentally handicaped boy into the community.

Trust me! Just watch it! Cuba Gooding Jr plays an extraordinary role! A must watch!

Kids Think

Kids Think
Originally uploaded by Pedroo.

TEACHER :Maria, go to the map and find North America.
MARIA : Here it is!
TEACHER : Correct. Now class, who discovered America?
CLASS : Maria.


TEACHER : Why are you late, Frank?
FRANK : Because of the sign.
TEACHER : What sign?
FRANK : The one that says, "School Ahead, Go Slow."


TEACHER : Donald, what is the chemical formula for water?
DONALD : H I J K L M N O!!
TEACHER : What are you talking about?
DONALD : Yesterday you said it's H to O!


TEACHER : Winnie, name one important thing we have today that we didn't have ten years ago.
WINNIE : Me!


TEACHER : Millie, give me a sentence starting with "I."
MILLIE : I is...
TEACHER : No, Millie..... Always say, "I am."
MILLIE : All right... "I am the ninth letter of the alphabet."


TEACHER : Can anybody give an example of COINCIDENCE?
TINO : Sir, my Mother and Father got married on the same day, same time."


TEACHER : George Washington not only chopped down his father's cherry tree, but also admitted doing it. Now, Louie, do you know why his father didn't punish him?"
LOUIS : Because George still had the ax in his hand.


TEACHER : Now, Simon, tell me frankly, do you say prayers before eating?
SIMON : No sir, I don't have to, my Mom is a good cook.


TEACHER : Clyde, your composition on "My Dog" is exactly the same as your brother's. Did you copy his?
CLYDE : No, teacher, it's the same dog!


TEACHER : Harold, what do you call a person who keeps on
talking when people are no longer interested?
HAROLD : A teacher

Uma peticao valida

Value4Money
Originally uploaded by Pedroo.

Olho para a maioria destes pedidos que me chegam via e-mail com grande cepticismo. Este nao foi excepcao. No entanto, desta vez decidi fazer parte e assinar. Vou tentar ser o mais breve possivel e explicar as razoes que me levaram a assinar bem como tentar convence-lo a aderir.

Recebi recentemente uma peticao cujo objectivo era alertar a Camara Municipal e o Governo Central para o facto do Convento de Jesus em Setubal estar abandonado e parcialmente destruido. O Convento de Jesus e um marco arquitectonico portugues e como qualquer pedaco de Historia deveria ser preservado.

Se vivessemos num mundo de "almocos gratis" assinaria esta peticao. Como quem decide tem de escolher entre alocar recursos a cultura e recursos a educacao, investir em hospitais ou pontes, etc... nao me espanta pois que o dinheiro do Estado nao chegue para tantos pedidos.

A discussao valida e longa derivava do comum comentario "se o Estado gastasse melhor e nao desperdicasse entao haveria dinheiro para o Convento de Jesus". Essa discussao teria um prisma diferente pois essa discussao estaria relacionada com as escolhas do Governo. Essa discussao e feita em altura legislativa ou autarquica e a nossa (sua e minha) decisao/escolha e feita atraves do voto. Logo, esta peticao para mim nao faz sentido.

No entanto, surgiu-me hoje uma peticao bem diferente. Leia os pormenores online. Ao contrario da primeira esta vem realcar um papel fundamental da cidadania. Imagine o seguinte:

Se comprasse um qualquer produto ou servico privado que pagasse directamente (imaginemos uma maquina de lavar em 2a mao) entao por certo nao pagaria a totalidade do produto ou sequer o preco referencia de mercado. Exigiria pagar abaixo desse preco por algo com menos qualidade.

O problema apontado pela peticao referente a cultura portuguesa e real. Como nao pagamos directamente por estes servicos que o Estado fornece (auto-estradas neste caso) mas sim atraves de impostos, entao ja nao temos o mesmo incentivo (leia-se paciencia) para reclamar melhor produto.

Ao Estado cabe decidir onde alocar os nossos impostos. Mas aos cidadaos cabe fiscalizar e exigir o melhor "value for money".

PS: Escolhi as definicoes do blog em ingles pelo que nao existem acentos nos textos portugueses. Peco perdao a Camoes pelo desvio...

Book: Winning, by Jack Welch

Winning
Originally uploaded by Pedroo.

Every once in a while a book stirs a lot thoughts in you. It's the kind of book you feel you'll talk about for a long time.

This is such a book. I HIGHLY recommend it! Don't judge it by it's cover! It's not about 10 steps to the top, or "Here's my truth on why i'm big".

It's a book about a man who graduated in 1961 and had a lifetime of experiences. He decided to write a book with the answers to most questions he's been asked on his travels, meetings and conferences.

If an experienced individual gets up and wants to share his/her experiences i'm willing to listen.

I'm getting my thoughts together and soon will start blogging some new discussion topics. In the meantime, hope you like it!

SHE GOT IT!!!!

Nicky-DHL
Originally uploaded by Pedroo.

Nicky just got the news!

She's on her way to Singapore where she'll be working for DHL as a Marketing Analyst for the Regional Office.

Looks like we'll be moving... ;-)

Song of the Day: Shout out to my homies Brenda & Abhi

Cowboy Troy - I play chicken with the train

Brenda and Abhi will LOVE it!!
Check out his website and the beat at:
http://www.cowboytroy.com

The Difference Between a Proposal and a Doorstop

Marketing Today
Originally uploaded by Pedroo.

One of the things i did most in AIESEC was writing proposals to companies. It all boiled down to making a credible, clear and enthusiastic statement to a company on why they should partner with a 50 year-old, completely student-run organization.

The task always proved to be interesting and challenging. Even though many times i used the old "copy paste" technique, every once in a while i tried to innovate and challenge my approach, especially when results weren't coming in as fast as i would want them to.

Today, 6 years after i started actually writing proposals, i still don't have a magic formula and every time i pick it up i try to change this and that, and make it better. If you work at a company and you've been in AIESEC i'm sure you'll agree that our proposals aren't all that shabby in comparison to the jibberish out there.

Click here to see something i recommend you read for improvement.
If you're an "AIESEC salesman" or ER it's a MUST read!